Heating incubator question....

[vkp23]

I have built a mini fridge 'bator and Have noticed I need to get my heat up a bit. I was wondering, can I use one of my extra aquarium heaters, and how does that work? I mean does it HAVE to be under the water? I think I saw a person use one once and they took it out of the glass. Why is that?

 

[Triggerjay]

lol.. that was me. I am NOT using the whole heater. the heating element has been discarded.. It is NOT safe to run an aquarium heater out of the water. The glass will get VERY hot, and any moisture that hits it will shatter the glass, possibly causing injury.. then, if that happens, you have an exposed heating element, which can cause shock, or even possibly electrocution. I used the thermostat out of an aquarium heater.. The heating element was replaced with an air type element. So, in a nutshell, I am just using the control side of the aquarium heater,... Not the heating side. I have found however, that using this setup, that my temperature varies VERY little... like .2 degrees.

So, what is it that you are currently using for a heating element?

Jason

 

[Triggerjay]

here is a link to my incubator thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=222189

Jason

 

[SpunkyTheMonkey]

what do you currently have in there for heat? if it's a big fridge you might need a couple of bulbs and a couple of fans (one of each, top & bottom).

 

[jvls1942]

you could put a light bulb in to supplement the heating element..

the bulb would not have to be wired into the thermostat..

it can be on continuously so that would slow down the cool off period between the thermostat cycles..

 

[vkp23]

Currently a light blub is being used for heat. My thermometer is hovering at 99 degrees which would be perfect if only my thermometer wasent about 7 degrees off. I only need to raise it that few degrees.

 

[SpunkyTheMonkey]

a higher wattage bulb might help but it also might give you bigger temp swings. try it, if your temp jumps up and down too much i'd personally go with another bulb and maybe another fan.

something else to think about, if you add a 2nd thermostat for the 2nd bulb, and run the 2nd fan from a 2nd transformer, you have a completely redundant system. more expensive but anything can fail and the whole thing will keep working...although you'd still need bulbs kicking out a bit more heat than you currently have.

btw, you're not using an energy saving bulb are you?

 

[vkp23]

Quote:
No not energy saver. It's an undercabnet light (20 watt I believe or 12 volt) It has a dimmer so maybe if I get another one and set the 2nd one on dim?